3&#39;-OH unblocked uncleotides and nucleosides base modified with non-cleavable, terminating groups and methods for their use in DNA squencing

ABSTRACT

Provided are novel nucleotides, nucleoside, and their derivatives described herein, that can be used in DNA sequencing technology and other types of DNA analysis. In one embodiment, the nucleotide or nucleoside with an unprotected 3′-OH group is derivatized at the nucleobase to include a fluorescent dye attached via a linker to a non-cleavable terminating group. The non-cleavable-fluorescent group is designed to terminate DNA synthesis so that DNA oligomers can be sequenced efficiently in a parallel format. These reagents and methods will lead to more accurate identification of polymorphisms and other valuable genetic information.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to compounds and methods for DNA sequencing and other types of DNA analysis. More particularly, the invention relates to nucleotides and nucleosides labeled with noncleavable groups and methods for their use in DNA sequencing and analysis.

BACKGROUND

Methods for rapidly sequencing DNA have become needed for analyzing diseases and mutations in the population and developing therapies. The most commonly observed form of human sequence variation is single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which occur in approximately 1-in-300 to 1-in-1000 base pairs of genomic sequence. Building upon the complete sequence of the human genome, efforts are underway to identify the underlying genetic link to common diseases by SNP mapping or direct association. Technology developments focused on rapid, high-throughput, and low cost DNA sequencing would facilitate the understanding and use of genetic information, such as SNPs, in applied medicine.

In general, 10%-to-15% of SNPs will affect protein function by altering specific amino acid residues, will affect the proper processing of genes by changing splicing mechanisms, or will affect the normal level of expression of the gene or protein by varying regulatory mechanisms. It is envisioned that the identification of informative SNPs will lead to more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identity of sporadic mutations in tissue. One application of an individual's SNP profile would be to significantly delay the onset or progression of disease with prophylactic drug therapies. Moreover, an SNP profile of drug metabolizing genes could be used to prescribe a specific drug regimen to provide safer and more efficacious results. To accomplish these ambitious goals, genome sequencing will move into the resequencing phase with the potential of partial sequencing of a large majority of the population, which would involve sequencing specific regions or single base pairs in parallel, which are distributed throughout the human genome to obtain the SNP profile for a given complex disease.

Sequence variations underlying most common diseases are likely to involve multiple SNPs, which are dispersed throughout associated genes and exist in low frequency. Thus, DNA sequencing technologies that employ strategies for de novo sequencing are more likely to detect and/or discover these rare, widely dispersed variants than technologies targeting only known SNPs.

Traditionally, DNA sequencing has been accomplished by the “Sanger” or “dideoxy” method, which involves the chain termination of DNA synthesis by the incorporation of 2′,3′-dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs) using DNA polymerase (Sanger, F., Nicklen, S., and Coulson, A. R. (1977) DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 5463-5467). The reaction also includes the natural 2′-deoxynucleotides (dNTPs), which extend the DNA chain by DNA synthesis. Balanced appropriately, competition between chain extension and chain termination results in the generation of a set of nested DNA fragments, which are uniformly distributed over thousands of bases and differ in size as base pair increments. Electrophoresis is used to resolve the nested DNA fragments by their respective size. The ratio of dNTP/ddNTP in the sequencing reaction determines the frequency of chain termination, and hence the distribution of lengths of terminated chains. The fragments are then detected via the prior attachment of four different fluorophores to the four bases of DNA (i.e., A, C, G, and T), which fluoresce their respective colors when irradiated with a suitable laser source. Currently, Sanger sequencing has been the most widely used method for discovery of SNPs by direct PCR sequencing (Gibbs, R. A., Nguyen, P.-N., McBride, L. J., Koepf, S. M., and Caskey, C. T. (1989) Identification of mutations leading to the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome by automated direct DNA sequencing of in vitro amplified cDNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 1919-1923) or genomic sequencing (Hunkapiller, T., Kaiser, R. J., Koop, B. F. , and Hood, L. (1991) Large-scale and automated DNA sequencing Determination. Science 254, 59-67; International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium. Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome. (2001) Nature 409, 860-921).

The need for developing new sequencing technologies has never been greater than today with applications spanning diverse research sectors including comparative genomics and evolution, forensics, epidemiology, and applied medicine for diagnostics and therapeutics. Current sequencing technologies are too expensive, labor intensive, and time consuming for broad application in human sequence variation studies. Genome center cost is calculated on the basis of dollars per 1,000 Q₂₀ bases and can be generally divided into the categories of instrumentation, personnel, reagents and materials, and overhead expenses. Currently, these centers are operating at less than one dollar per 1,000 Q₂₀ bases with at least 50% of the cost resulting from DNA sequencing instrumentation alone. Developments in novel detection methods, miniaturization in instrumentation, microfluidic separation technologies, and an increase in the number of assays per run will most likely have the biggest impact on reducing cost.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide novel compounds that are useful in efficient sequencing of genomic information in high throughput sequencing reactions.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel reagents and combinations of reagents that can efficiently and affordably provide genomic information.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide libraries and arrays of reagents for diagnostic methods and for developing targeted therapeutics for individuals.

SUMMARY

Provided are nucleoside compounds as well as phosphates and salts thereof, that can be used in DNA sequencing technology. The compounds are optionally in the form of ribonucleoside triphosphate (NTP) and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) compounds. The nucleotide and nucleoside compounds include a noncleavable group labeled with a fluorescent dye. The nucleotide and nucleoside compounds are designed to terminate DNA synthesis, so that nucleic acid oligomers can be sequenced rapidly in a parallel format.

A variety of nucleotide and nucleoside compounds, containing the nucleobases adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil, or naturally occurring derivatives thereof, are provided that can be derivatized to include a detectable label such as a dye.

In one embodiment the base of the nucleoside is covalently attached with a benzyl group, and the alpha carbon position of the benzyl group is optionally substituted with one alkyl or aryl group as described herein. The benzyl group can be functionalized to enhance the termination properties. The termination properties of the optionally alpha carbon substituted benzyl group attached to the nucleobase occur even when the 3′-OH group on the ribose sugar is unblocked. These 3′-OH unblocked terminators are well-tolerated by a number of commercially available DNA polymerases, representing a key advantage over 3′-O-blocked terminators. The linker group also can be derivatized to include a selected fluorescent dye.

In particular, methods for DNA sequencing are provided using combinations of the four nucleoside triphosphate compounds, modified with a non-cleavable terminating group, and derivatives described herein and labeled with distinct fluorescent dyes, which could be used for identifying the incorporated bases to reveal the underlying DNA sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Provided are nucleotide and nucleoside compounds as well as salts, esters and phosphates thereof, that can be used in rapid DNA sequencing technology. The compounds are optionally in the form of ribonucleoside triphosphates (NTPs) and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTP). The nucleotide and nucleoside compounds in one embodiment includes a non-cleavable group labeled with a fluorescent dye. The nucleotide and nucleoside compounds are designed to terminate DNA synthesis, so that these monomers can be used for rapid sequencing in a parallel format. The presence of such groups labeled with fluorescent dyes on the nucleotide and nucleoside compounds can enhance the speed and accuracy of sequencing of large oligomers of DNA in parallel, to allow, for example, rapid whole genome sequencing, and the identification of polymorphisms and other valuable genetic information.

A variety of nucleotide and nucleoside compounds, containing the nucleobases adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil, or naturally occurring derivatives thereof, are provided that include non-cleavable terminating moieties and/or which can be derivatized to include a detectable label such as a dye.

In one embodiment, the nucleobases adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, uracil, or naturally occurring derivatives thereof, can be covalently attached to a dye via a non-cleavable terminating moiety. The non-cleavable terminating moiety can be derivatized to enhance its termination of DNA synthesis thus increasing its usefulness in DNA sequencing.

I. Advantages of Compounds for Sequencing

Nucleotide and nucleoside compounds are provided which are useful in DNA sequencing technology. The efficiency of incorporation of compounds according to the invention may range from about 70% to about 100% of the incorporation of the analogous native nucleoside. Preferably, the efficiency of incorporation will range from about 85% to about 100%. Further, termination of nucleic acid extension will range from about 90% to about 100% upon incorporation of compounds according to the invention. Nucleotide and nucleoside compounds in one embodiment have a termination efficiency of at least 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, 99.5%, 99.6%, 99.7%, 99.8%, or 99.9%.

II. Compounds

A variety of nucleosides and compounds as well as their mono, di and triphosphates are provided. The compounds are useful for sequencing technology. In one embodiment, the nucleoside compound includes a fluorescent group that can be detected efficiently. The nucleoside compounds can be converted into their respective triphosphates for DNA polymerase reactions. Compounds according to the invention may be represented by the following formula:

wherein R₁ is H, monophosphate, diphosphate or triphosphate, R₂ is H or OH, base is cytosine, uracil, thymine, adenine, guanine, or a naturally occurring derivative thereof, the non-cleavable terminating moiety is a group imparting polymerase termination properties to the compound, linker is a bifunctional group, and the dye is a fluorophore. Compounds according to the invention can be designed as fluorescent, non-labile nonreversible terminators useful in DNA synthesis sequencing.

In one embodiment, a compound is provided having a structure of formulas I-VII:

wherein R₁═H, monophosphate, diphosphate or triphophosphate, R₂═H or OH, R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group of H, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group such as a phenyl, naphthyl, or pyridine ring, R₅, R₆, and R₇, are each independently selected from the group H, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, a halide, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, an aromatic group such as a phenyl, naphthyl, or pyridine ring, and/or a linker group of the general structure:

X═CH₂, CH═CH, C≡C, O, S, or NH, Y═CH₂, O, or NH, n=an integer from 0-12; m=an integer from 0-12, and Dye=a fluorophore, and R₈ and R₉ are as defined above for R₅, R₆, and R₇, with the proviso that R₈ and R₉ are not NO₂, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof or enantiomer, racemic mixture, or stereoisomer thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, R₃ and R₄ are selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, —CH₃, —CH₂CH₃, —CH₂CH₂CH₃, isopropyl, tert-butyl, and phenyl. Alternatively, R₃ and R₄ are selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, alkyl and aromatic groups optionally containing at least one heteroatom in the alkyl or aromatic groups, and further wherein the aromatic group may optionally be an aryl such as phenyl or polycyclic such as a naphthyl group. In certain embodiments, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are selected from an aromatic group consisting of aryl and polycyclic groups.

Alternatively, linkers may have the following general structures:

For example, compounds with such linkers could have the following structures:

wherein the noncleavable terminating moiety can be attached to the base through a linkage such as a benzyl amine, benzyl ether, carbamate, carbonate, 2-(o-nitrophenyl)ethyl carbamate, and/or 2-(o-nitrophenyl)ethyl carbonate.

Fluorescent dyes are not particularly limited. For example, the fluorophore may be selected from the group consisting of, but not limited to, BODIPY, fluorescein, rhodamine, coumarin, xanthene, cyanine, pyrene, phthalocyanine, phycobiliprotein, alexa, squarene dye, combinations resulting in energy transfer dyes, and derivatives thereof.

Preferred embodiments include but are not limited to the following compounds:

III. Synthesis of Compounds

The compounds disclosed herein can be synthesized generally as disclosed herein, and using methods available in the art. For example, the following general scheme represents the synthesis of an adenosine compound:

Additional details are provided in the Examples section.

IV. Methods of Use of Compounds According to the Invention

The nucleoside compounds disclosed herein can be used in for a variety of purposes in DNA sequencing technology. Polymerases used in conjunction with the compounds according to the invention may be native polymerases or modified polymerases. Polymerases include DNA and non-DNA polymerases. For example, polymerases for use with the compounds according to the invention include without limitation reverse transcriptase, terminal transferase, and DNA polymerase. Among DNA polymerases, preferred embodiments include Taq DNA polymerase, Klenow(-exo-) DNA polymerase, Bst DNA polymerase, Vent(-exo-) DNA polymerase, Pfu(-exo-) DNA polymerase, and DeepVent(-exo-) DNA polymerase. Modified polymerases include without limitation TaqFS DNA polymerase, ThermoSequenase DNA polymerase, ThermoSequenase II DNA polymerase, Therminator DNA polymerase, Therminator II DNA polymerase, and Vent(-exo-) A488L DNA polymerase. Preferably, compounds according to the invention are incorporated at levels equal to or near the incorporation levels of naturally-occurring nucleotides, thus resulting in no bias against the compounds according to the invention. Even more preferably, compounds according to the invention are compatible with commercially-available polymerases.

In a preferred embodiment, methods according to the invention include a method of determining the sequence of a target nucleic acid comprising (i) adding a target nucleic acid to a Sanger or Sanger-type sequencing apparatus, (ii) adding one or more compounds according to the invention to the sequencing apparatus, with the proviso that where more than one type of base is present, each base is attached to a different fluorophore; (iii) adding a complementary primer and a polymerase enzyme, (iv) performing a polymerase reaction to incorporate at least one of the compounds of step (ii) into a growing nucleic acid strand, and (v) analyzing the result of the Sanger sequencing reaction with fluorescence sequencing instrumentation or by pulsed multiline excitation fluorescence, wherein steps (i)-(iii) can be performed in any order.

In a preferred embodiment, incorporation of at least one compound according to step (iv) is followed by termination of strand growth at an efficiency of from about 90% to about 100%. Alternatively, the incorporation of at least one compound according to step (iv) occurs at about 70% to about 100% of the efficiency of incorporation of a native substrate with the same base in the polymerase reaction, or more preferably at about 85% to about 100%.

Methods according to the invention also include a method of incorporating a non-naturally occurring component into a nucleic acid comprising: (i) adding a target nucleic acid to a sequencing apparatus; (ii) adding one or more compounds according to the invention to the sequencing apparatus, with the proviso that where more than one type of base is present, each base is attached to a different fluorophore; (iii) adding a polymerase enzyme; and (iv) performing a polymerase reaction to incorporate at least one of the compounds of step (ii) into a growing nucleic acid strand, wherein steps (i)-(iii) can be performed in any order. The method can further comprise (v) analyzing the result of the polymerase chain reaction for incorporation of at least one compound from step (ii).

An alternative embodiment of the invention is a method of terminating nucleic acid synthesis comprising the step of placing a 3′-OH unprotected nucleotide or nucleoside according to the invention in the environment of a polymerase and allowing incorporation of the 3′-OH unprotected nucleotide or nucleoside into a nucleic acid. Preferred embodiments of the method have an efficiency of termination upon incorporation of the 3′-OH unprotected nucleotide or nucleoside ranging from about 90% to about 100%; with the efficiency of incorporation of the 3′-OH unprotected nucleotide or nucleoside ranging from about 70% to about 100% compared to the efficiency of incorporation of a naturally-occurring nucleotide or nucleoside with the same base.

Methods of performing Sanger or Sanger-type sequencing comprising addition of a compound according to the invention to a Sanger or Sanger-type sequencing method are also encompassed. A method of performing mini-sequencing or minisequencing-type sequencing comprising addition of a compound according to the invention to a mini-sequencing or minisequencing-type sequencing method is within the scope of the invention.

PME Detector

In one embodiment, a pulsed-multiline excitation (“PME”) for color-blind fluorescence detection can be used as described in US 2003/0058440 published Mar. 27, 2003, or PCT WO 031 021212. published Mar. 13, 2003. This technology provides fluorescence detection with application for high-throughput identification of informative SNPs, for more accurate diagnosis of inherited disease, better prognosis of risk susceptibilities, or identification of sporadic mutations. The PME technology has two main advantages that significantly increase fluorescence sensitivity: (1) optimal excitation of all fluorophores in the genomic assay and (2) “color-blind” detection, which collects considerably more light than standard wavelength resolved detection. This technology differs significantly from DNA sequencing instrumentation which features single source excitation and color dispersion for DNA sequence identification. The technology can be used in clinical diagnostics, forensics, and general sequencing methodologies and will have the capability, flexibility, and portability of targeted sequence variation assays for a large majority of the population.

In one embodiment, an apparatus and method for use in high-throughput DNA sequence identification is used. A pulse-multiline excitation apparatus for analyzing a sample containing one or more fluorescent species is used, comprising: one or more lasers configured to emit two or more excitation lines, each excitation line having a different wavelength; a timing circuit coupled to the one or more lasers and configured to generate the two or more excitation lines sequentially according to a timing program to produce time-correlated fluorescence emission signals from the sample; a non-dispersive detector positioned to collect the time-correlated fluorescence emission signals emanating from the sample; and an analyzer coupled to the detector and configured to associate the time-correlated fluorescence emission signals with the timing program to identify constituents of the sample.

The detector and the analyzer may be integral. In one embodiment, the two or more excitation lines intersect at the sample, or the two or more excitation lines may be configured so that they do not intersect in the sample. The two or more excitation lines may be coaxial.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise an assembly of one or more prisms in operative relation with the one or more lasers and configured to render radiation of the two or more excitation lines substantially colinear and/or coaxial.

The apparatus may have a plurality of excitation lines, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or more excitation lines having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or more excitation wavelengths, respectively. The sample may be comprised a plurality of vessels such as capillaries, for example in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, up to 20, up to 24, up to 28, up to 36, up to 48, up to 64, up to 96, up to 384 or more capillaries. A sheath flow cuvette may be used.

The timing program may comprise a delay between the firing of each laser of between about 10 fs and about 5 s, between about 1 ms and about 100 ms, or between about 50 ps and about 500 ps. One or more of the excitation lines is pulsed. The pulsed excitation line may be controlled by TTL logic or by mechanical or electronic means. In one embodiment, the apparatus may generate a sequence of discrete excitation lines that are time-correlated with the fluorescence emission signals from the sample.

The lasers may independently comprise a diode laser, a semiconductor laser, a gas laser, such as an argon ion, krypton, or helium-neon laser, a diode laser, a solid-state laser such as a Neodymium laser which will include an ion-gain medium, such as YAG and yttrium vanadate (YVO₄), or a diode pumped solid state laser. Other devices, which produce light at one or more discrete excitation wavelengths, may also be used in place of the laser. The laser may further comprise a Raman shifter in operable relation with at least one laser beam. In one embodiment of the invention, the excitation wavelength provided by each laser is optically matched to the absorption wavelength of each fluorophore.

The detector may comprise a charged couple device, a photomultiplier tube, a silicon avalanche photodiode or a silicon PIN detector. The footprint of the device is preferably small, such as less than 4 ft×4 ft×2 ft, less than 1 ft×1 ft×2 ft, and could be made as small as 1 in×3 in×6 in.

Another aspect comprises a method of identifying sample components comprising: (a) preparing a sample comprising sample components, a first dye and a second dye; (b) placing the sample in the beam path of a first excitation line and a second excitation line; (c) sequentially firing the first excitation line and the second excitation line; (d) collecting fluorescence signals from the samples as a function of time; and (e) sorting the fluorescence by each excitation line's on-time window, wherein the sample components are identified. It is an aspect of the invention that the fluorescence signals are collected from discrete time periods in which no excitation line is incident on the sample, the time periods occurring between the firing of the two excitation lines. This technique is known as “looking in the dark.” Yet another aspect is that the absorption maximum of the first dye substantially corresponds to the excitation wavelength of the first excitation line. The absorption maximum of the second dye may also substantially corresponds to the excitation wavelength of the second excitation line. In yet another aspect there is a third and fourth dye and a third and fourth excitation line, wherein the absorption maxima of the third and fourth dyes substantially correspond to the excitation wavelengths of the third and four excitation lines, respectively. Similarly, there may be 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 or more dyes wherein the absorption maxima of the dyes substantially corresponds to excitation wavelengths of a 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, or more excitation lines, respectively. The dyes may be a zanthene, fluorescein, rhodamine, BODIPY, cyanine, coumarin, pyrene, phthalocyanine, phycobiliprotein, Alexa, squariane dyes, or some other suitable dye.

In one embodiment, sample components enable the determination of SNPs. The method may be for the high-throughput identification of informative SNPs. The SNPs may be obtained directly from genomic DNA material, from PCR amplified material, or from cloned DNA material and may be assayed using a single nucleotide primer extension method. The single nucleotide primer extension method may comprise using single unlabeled dNTPs, single labeled dNTPs, single 3′-modified dNTPs, single base-modified 3′-dNTPs, single alpha-thio-dNTPs or single labeled 2′,3′-dideoxynucleotides. The mini-sequencing method may comprise using single unlabeled dNTPs, single labeled dNTPs, single 3′-modified dNTPs, single base-modified 3′-dNTPs, single alpha-thio-dNTPs or single labeled 2′,3′-dideoxynucleotides. The SNPs may be obtained directly from genomic DNA material, from PCR amplified material, or from cloned DNA materials.

Also envisioned are methods for detecting nucleic acids. Nucleic acids may be detected in situ or in various gels, blots, and similar methods for detecting nucleic acids, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,660, which is incorporated herein by reference.

EXAMPLES Example 1 dA Compounds Synthesis of N⁶-benzyl-2′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (WW2p062)

N⁶-tert-Butyloxycarbonyl-N⁶-benzyl-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n1)

NaH (18 mg, 0.75 mmol, dry) was added to a solution of compound dA.07 (400 mg, 0.58 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (5 mL) at 0° C. and stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of benzyl bromide (149 mg, 0.87 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2.5 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred for two hours. DMF was removed in vacuo, and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (60 mL), washed twice with saturated NH₄Cl solution (40 mL each) and once with water (40 mL). The combined aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL), and the combined organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo, and purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-N⁶-benzyl-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n1 (398 mg, 86%) as a viscous oil.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.72 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.32 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.39 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.25 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.18 (m, 1H, Ph-H), 6.49 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 5.28 (s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.62 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.01 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.85 (dd, 1H, J=4.4 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′a), 3.77 (dd, 1H, J=3.4 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′b), 2.61 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.43 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 1.65 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃CO), 0.96 (s, 18H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.08 (2 s, 12H, (CH₃)₂Si).

N⁶-Benzyl-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n2)

Silica gel 60 (3.76 g, 100-200 mesh, activated by heating to 70-80° C. under reduced pressure for hours) was added to a solution of compound dA.n1 (376 mg, 0.56 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL), and the mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was heated to 70-80° C. under reduced pressure for two days, washed three times with methanol (30 mL each), and filtered using a buchi funnel. The combined filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-benzyl-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n2 (305 mg, 95%) as a yellow foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.41 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.07 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.38 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.33 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.28 (m, 1H, Ph-H), 6.45 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 6.12 (br s, 1H, 6-NH), 4.87 (br s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.62 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.01 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.87 (dd, 1H, J=4.2 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′a), 3.77 (dd, 1H, J=3.2 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′b), 2.64 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.44 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 0.91 (s, 18H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.09 (2 s, 12H, (CH₃)₂Si—).

N⁶-Benzyl-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n3)

A solution of n-Bu₄NF (335 mg, 1.28 mmol) in THF (2.5 mL) was added to a solution of compound dA.n2 (292 mg, 0.51 mmol) in THF (6 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred for two hours. Silica gel 60 (1 g) was added, and the mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-benzyl-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n3 (173 mg, 99%) as a white foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD): δ 8.30 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.25 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.36 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.31 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.24 (m, 1H, Ph-H), 6.42 (dd, 1H, J=6.0 and 7.9 Hz, H-1′), 4.81 (br s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.57 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.06 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.83 (m, 1H, J=2.9 and 12.3 Hz, H-5′a), 3.73 (dd, 1H, J=3.3 and 12.3 Hz, H-5′b), 2.79 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.40 (m, 1H, H-2′b).

N⁶-Benzyl-2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-triphosphate (WW2p062)

POCl₃ (22 μL, 0.24 mmol) was added to a solution of compound dA.10a (42 mg, 0.12 mmol) in trimethylphosphate (0.5 mL) and maintained at minus 20-30° C. for two hours. A solution of bis-tri-n-butylammonium pyrophosphate (285 mg, 0.6 mmol) and tri-n-butylamine (120 μL) in anhydrous DMF (1.2 mL) was added. After five minutes of stirring, triethylammonium bicarbonate buffer (1 M, pH 7.5; 10 mL) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for one hour and then lyophilized to dryness. The residue was dissolved in water (10 mL), filtered, and purified by anion exchange chromatography using a Q Sepharose FF column (2.5×20 cm) with a linear gradient of NH₄HCO₃ (50 mM to 500 mM in 300 minutes) at a flow rate of 4.5 mL/min. The fractions containing triphosphate were combined and lyophilized to give N⁶-benzyl-2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-triphosphate WW2p062 (24 mg, 32%) as a white fluffy solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 8.43 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.20 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.39-7.30 (m, 5H, Ph-H), 6.50 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 4.85 (s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.31 (s, 1H, H-4′), 4.22 (m, 2H, H-5′a and H-5′b), 2.82 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.62 (m, 1H, H-2′b);

³¹P NMR (162 MHz, D₂O): δ −5.72 (d, J=15.9 Hz), −10.78 (d, J=15.4 Hz), −19.16 (t, J=14.9 Hz);

ToF-MS (ESI): For the molecular ion C₁₇H₂₀N₅O₁₂P₃Na [M−2H+Na]⁻, the calculated mass was 602.0219, and the observed mass was 602.0363.

Synthesis of 6-FAM labeled N⁶-[4-(3-amino-1-propyl)benzyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (WW2p085)

N⁶-tert-Butyloxycarbonyl-N⁶-(4-iodobenzyl)-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n4)

NaH (23 mg, 0.94 mmol, dry) was added to a solution of compound dA.07 (500 mg, 0.72 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (6.5 mL) at 0° C. and stirred for 30 minutes. A solution of 4-Iodobenzyl bromide (322 mg, 1.08 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2.5 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred for two hours. DMF was removed in vacuo, and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate (60 mL), washed twice with saturated NH₄Cl solution (40 mL each) and once with water (40 mL). The combined aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (10 mL), and the combined organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo, and purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-N⁶-(4-iodobenzyl)-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n4 (565 mg, 99%) as a viscous oil.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.71 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.33 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.58 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 7.17 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 6.49 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 5.20 (s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.62 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.02 (m, 1H, H-3′), 3.86 (dd, 1H, J=4.2 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′a), 3.78 (dd, 1H, J=3.2 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′b), 2.63 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.45 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 1.42 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃CO), 0.92 (s, 18H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.08 (2 s, 12H, (CH₃)₂Si—).

N⁶-(4-Iodobenzyl)-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n5)

Silica gel 60 (6.00 g, 100-200 mesh, activated by heating to 70-80° C. under reduced pressure for hours) was added to a solution of compound dA.n4 (565 mg, 0.71 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL), and the mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was heated to 70-80° C. under reduced pressure for two days, washed three times with methanol (30 mL each), and filtered using a buchi funnel. The combined filtrate was concentrated in vacuo and purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-(4-iodobenzyl)-3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n5 (489 mg, 99%) as a yellow foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.38 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.06 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.63 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 7.11 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 6.45 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 6.34 (t, 1H, 6-NH), 4.81 (br s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.61 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.00 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.85 (dd, 1H, J=4.2 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′a), 3.76 (dd, 1H, J=3.2 and 11.2 Hz, H-5′b), 2.64 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.44 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 0.91 (s, 18H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.09 (2 s, 12H, (CH₃)₂Si—).

N⁶-(4-Iodobenzyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n6)

A solution of n-Bu₄NF (282 mg, 1.08 mmol) in THF (1.0 mL) was added to a solution of compound dA.n5 (300 mg, 0.43 mmol) in THF (1.2 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred for two hours. Silica gel 60 (1 g) was added, and the mixture was evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-(4-iodobenzyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n6 (266 mg, 98%) as a white foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 8.48 (br s, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 6-NH), 8.40 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.27 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.68 (d, 2H, J=8.0 Hz, Ph-H), 7.17 (d, 2H, J=8.0 Hz, Ph-H), 6.39 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 5.34 (d, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 3′-OH), 5.22 (t, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 5′-OH), 4.68 (br s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.44 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.91 (m, 1H, H-3′), 3.64 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.55 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.76 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.31 (m, 1H, H-2′b).

N⁶-[4-(3-trifluoroacetamido-1-propynyl)benzyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n7)

A solution of compound dA.n6 (266 mg, 0.57 mmol), N-propargyltrifluoroacetamide (260 mg, 1.72 mmol), CuI (22 mg, 0.11 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (65 mg, 0.06 mmol), and Et₃N (160 μL, 1.14 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2.1 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 4.5 hours. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo and purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-[4-(3-trifluoroacetamido-1-propynyl)-benzyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n7 (268 mg, 94%) as a waxy solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 10.05 (br m, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, NH), 8.46 (br m, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, NH), 8.37 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.19 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.37 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 7.32 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 6.35 (dd, 1H, J=6.4 and 7.5 Hz, H-1′), 5.31 (d, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 3′-OH), 5.19 (t, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 5′-OH), 4.70 (br s, 2H, Ph-CH₂), 4.41 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.26 (d, 2H, J=4.3 Hz, CH₂) 3.88 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.61 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.53 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.73 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.25 (m, 1H, H-2′b).

N⁶-[4-(3-Amino-1-propyl)benzyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-triphosphate (dA.n8)

POCl₃ (16 μL, 0.17 mmol) was added to a solution of compound dA.n7 (56 mg, 0.11 mmol) and proton sponge (37 mg, 0.17 mmol) in trimethylphosphate (0.5 mL) and maintained at minus 20-30° C. for two hours. A solution of bis-tri-n-butylammonium pyrophosphate (261 mg, 0.55 mmol) and tri-n-butylamine (110 μL) in anhydrous DMF (1.1 mL) was added. After five minutes of stirring, triethylammonium bicarbonate buffer (1 M, pH 7.5; 10 mL) was added. The reaction was stirred for one hour at room temperature, followed by the dropwise addition of concentrated ammonium hydroxide (10 mL, 27%) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred for an additional hour at room temperature and then lyophilized to dryness. The residue obtained was dissolved in water (10 mL), filtered, and purified by anion exchange chromatography using a Q Sepharose FF column (2.5×20 cm) with a linear gradient of NH₄HCO₃ (50 mM to 500 mM in 300 minutes) at a flow rate of 4.5 mL/min. The fractions containing triphosphate were combined and lyophilized to give triphosphate dA.n8 (63 mg, 84%) as a white fluffy solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, D₂O): δ 8.41 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.19 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.38-7.26 (m, 4H, Ph-H), 6.47 (dd, 1H, J=5.5 and 6.6 Hz, H-1′), 4.30 (s, 1H, H-4′), 4.21 (m, 2H, H-5′a and H-5′b), 3.63 (s, 2H, CH₂), 2.79 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.60 (m, 1H, H-2′b).

³¹P NMR (162 MHz, D₂O): δ −5.80 (d, J=20.1 Hz), −10.94 (d, J=19.3 Hz), −21.59 (t, J=19.3 Hz);

ToF-MS (ESI): For the molecular ion C₂₀H₂₃N₆O₁₂P₃Na [M−2H+Na]⁻, the calculated mass was 655.0485, and the observed mass was 655.0758.

6-FAM labeled N⁶-[4-(3-Amino-1-propyl)benzyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-triphosphate (WW2p085)

A solution of 6-FAM-SE (3.5 mg, 7.35 μmol) in anhydrous DMSO (70 μL) was added to a solution of triphosphate dA.18a (3.5 μmol) in Na₂CO₃/NaHCO₃ buffer (0.1 M, pH 9.2; 600 μL) and incubated at room temperature for one hour. The reaction was purified by reverse-phase HPLC using a Perkin Elmer OD-300 C₁₈ column (4.6×250 mm) to yield the 6-FAM labeled triphosphate WW2p085. Mobile phase: A, 100 mM triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) in water (pH 7.0); B, 100 mM TEAA in water/CH₃CN (30:70). Elution was performed with a linear gradient of 5-20% B for 20 minutes and then 20-90% B for 20 minutes. The concentration of WW2p085 was estimated by adsorption spectroscopy using the extinction coefficient of the 6-FAM dye (i.e., 68,000 at 494 nm).

ToF-MS (ESI): For the molecular ion C₄₁H₃₆N₆O₁₈P₃ [M+H]⁺, the calculated mass was 993.1299, and the observed mass was 993.1520.

Synthesis of 6-FAM labeled N⁶-{1-[4-(3-amino-1-propynyl)phenyl]ethyl}-2′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (WW2p093)

3′,5′-O-Bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyinosine (dA.n9)¹

¹The exact procedure can be found in: Kiselyov, A. S.; Steinbrecher, T.; Harvey, R. G. (1995) “Synthesis of the Fjord-region cis- and trans-Amino Triol Derivatives of the carcinogenic Hydrocarbon Benzo[g]chrysene and Utilization for the Synthesis of a Deoxyadenosine Adduct Linked to the N6-Amino Group” J. Org. Chem., 60: 6129-6134.

A solution of TBSCl (1.91 g, 12.67 mmol) was added to a solution of 2′-deoxyinosine (1.00 g, 3.96 mmol) and imidiazole (1.73 g, 25.34 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (3 mL) at 0° C. under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred for 12 hours. The mixture was then concentrated in vacuo, dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (100 mL), washed twice with water (50 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo, and purified by silica gel chromatography to yield 3′,5′-O-bis-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyinosine dA.n9 (1.58 g, 83%) as a white powder.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 12.37 (br s, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, NH), 8.25 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.04 (d, 1H, J=3.6 Hz, H-2), 6.29 (t, 1H, J=6.6 Hz, H-1′), 4.59 (m, 1H, H-3′), 3.84 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.74 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.66 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.76 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.30 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 0.89 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.85 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.11 (s, 6H, (CH₃)₂Si), 0.02 (2 s, 6H, (CH₃)₂Si).

O⁶-(2-Mesitylenesulfonyl)-3′,5′-bis-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyinosine (dA.n10)¹

2-Mesitylenesulfonyl chloride (0.70 g, 2.12 mmol), Et₃N (0.42 mL, 3.07 mmol), and DMAP (16 mg, 0.13 mmol) were added to a solution of dA.n9 (1.02 g, 2.12 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (15 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours, then diluted with ethyl ether (50 mL). The ether solution was washed twice with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃ (25 mL each) and then with brine (25 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo, and purified by silica gel chromatography to yield O⁶-(2-mesitylenesulfonyl)-3′,5′-bis-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyinosine dA.n10 (279 mg, 20%).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.55 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.38 (s, 1H, H-2), 6.99 (s, 2H, Ph-H), 6.48 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 4.61 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.03 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.85 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.76 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.77 (s, 6H, CH₃), 2.61 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.43 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 2.32 (s, 3H, CH₃), 0.91 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.89 (s, 9H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.09 (s, 6H, (CH₃)₂Si), 0.08 (2 s, 6H, (CH₃)₂Si).

N⁶-[1-(4-Iodophenyl)ethyl]-3′,5′-bis-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n11)

A solution of 1-(4-iodophenyl)ethylamine (312 mg, 1.26 mmol) in anhydrous 1,4-dioxane (1 mL) was added to a solution of dA.n10 (279 mg, 0.42 mmol) in anhydrous 1,4-dioxane (2 mL) containing molecular sieves (4 Å, 8-12 Mesh, 0.75 g) at room temperature under nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was then stirred at 50° C. for 18 hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-[1-(4-iodophenyl)ethyl]-3′,5′-bis-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n11 (263 mg, 88%, 1:1 mixture of diastereoisomers) as a white foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) for diastereoisomers: δ 8.32 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.08 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.61 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.15 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 6.42 (t, 1H, J=6.4 Hz, H-1′), 6.20 (br m, 1H, NH), 5.50 (br s, 1H, Ph-CH), 4.59 (m, 1H, H-3′), 3.99 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.85 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.77 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.60 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.42 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 1.59 (d, 3H, J=7.0 Hz, CH₃), 0.90 (s, 18H, (CH₃)₃CSi), 0.08 (s, 12H, (CH₃)₂Si);

¹³C NMR (100 MHz, MeOH-d₄) for diastereoisomers: δ 153.78 (C), 151.94 (CH), 143.78/143.71 (C), 138.36 (CH), 137.57 (CH), 128.17/128.16 (CH), 119.99 (C), 92.41 (C), 87.81/87.79 (CH), 84.28 (CH), 71.78/71.74 (CH), 62.72/62.68 (CH₂), 49.40 (br, CH), 41.31 (CH₂), 25.96 (CH₃), 25.75 (CH₃), 22.64 (CH₃), 18.41 (C), 17.99 (C), −4.66 (CH₃), −4.82 (CH₃), −5.39 (CH₃), −5.48 (CH₃).

N⁶-[1-(4-Iodophenyl)ethyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n12)

A solution of n-Bu₄NF (409 mg, 1.30 mmol) in THF (3 mL) was added to a solution of compound dA.n11 (263 mg, 0.37 mmol) in THF (5 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was gradually warmed to room temperature and stirred for 30 minutes, then concentrated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-[1-(4-iodophenyl)ethyl]-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n12 (164 mg, 93% 1:1 mixture of diastereoisomers) as a waxy solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) for diastereomers: δ 8.35 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.32 (br s, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, NH), 8.13 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.62 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 7.22 (d, 2H, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 6.32 (m, 1H, H-1′), 5.41 (br, 1H, Ph-CH), 5.31 (d, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 3′-OH), 5.19 (m, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 5′-OH), 4.35 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.85 (m, 1H, H-4′), 3.58 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.48 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.68 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.22 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 1.49 (d, 3H, J=7.0 Hz, CH₃).

N⁶-{1-[4-(3-Trifluoroacetamido-1-propynyl)phenyl]ethyl}-2′-deoxyadenosine (dA.n13)

A solution of compound dA.n12 (70 mg, 0.145 mmol), N-propargyltrifluoroacetamide (66 mg, 0.44 mmol), CuI (5.5 mg, 0.03 mmol), tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (17 mg, 0.015 mmol), and Et₃N (41 μL, 0.29 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2.2 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 5.5 hours. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo and purified by silica gel column chromatography to yield N⁶-{1-[4-(3-trifluoroacetamido-1-propynyl)phenyl]ethyl}-2′-deoxyadenosine dA.n13 (63 mg, 86%, 1:1 mixture of diastereoisomers) as a waxy solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) for diastereomers: δ 10.05 (t, 1H, J=5.4 Hz, D₂O exchangeable, NH), 8.36 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.34 (br s, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, NH), 8.15 (s, 1H, H-2), 7.43 (d, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 7.36 (d, 2H, 2H, J=8.2 Hz, Ph-H), 6.33 (dd, 1H, J=6.4 and 7.5, Hz, H-1′), 5.49 (br, 1H, Ph-CH), 5.30 (d, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 3′-OH), 5.10 (m, 1H, D₂O exchangeable, 5′-OH), 4.39 (m, 1H, H-3′), 4.25 (d, 2H, J=5.4 Hz, CH₂), 3.87 (m, 1H, H-3′), 3.59 (m, 1H, H-5′a), 3.51 (m, 1H, H-5′b), 2.72 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.24 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 1.52 (d, 3H, J=7.0 Hz, CH₃);

N⁶-{1-[4-(3-Amino-1-propynyl)phenyl]ethyl}-2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-triphosphate (dA.n14)

POCl₃ (14 μL, 0.15 mmol) was added to a solution of compound dA.n14 (51 mg, 0.1 mmol) and proton sponge (32 mg, 0.15 mmol) in trimethylphosphate (0.5 mL) and maintained at minus 20-30° C. for two hours. A solution of bis-tri-n-butylammonium pyrophosphate (237 mg, 0.5 mmol) and tri-n-butylamine (100 μL) in anhydrous DMF (1.0 mL) was added. After five minutes of stirring, triethylammonium bicarbonate buffer (1 M, pH 7.5; 10 mL) was added. The reaction was stirred for one hour at room temperature, followed by the dropwise addition of concentrated ammonium hydroxide (10 mL, 27%) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred for an additional hour at room temperature and then lyophilized to dryness. The residue obtained was dissolved in water (10 mL), filtered, and purified by anion exchange chromatography using a Q Sepharose FF column (2.5×20 cm) with a linear gradient of NH₄HCO₃ (50 mM to 500 mM in 300 minutes) at a flow rate of 4.5 mL/min. The fractions containing triphosphate were combined and lyophilized to give triphosphate dA.n14 (60 mg, 86%, 1:1 mixture of diastereoisomers) as a white fluffy solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, D₂O) for diastereoisomers: δ 8.41 (s, 1H, H-8), 8.14 (2 s, 1H, H-2), 7.38 (m, 4H, Ph-H), 6.46 (m, 1H, H-1′), 5.32 (br, 1H, Ph-CH), 4.30 (s, 1H, H-3′), 4.20 (m, 2H, H-5′a and H-5′b), 3.61 (s, 2H, CH₂), 2.78 (m, 1H, H-2′a), 2.59 (m, 1H, H-2′b), 1.60 (d, 3H, J=6.9 Hz, CH₃);

³¹P NMR (162 MHz, D₂O): δ −6.02 (d, J=19.4 Hz), −11.19 (d, J=19.4 Hz), −21.77 (t, J=19.4 Hz);

ToF-MS (ESI): For the molecular ion C₂₁H₂₅N₆O₁₂P₃Na [M−2H+Na]⁻, the calculated mass was 669.0641, and the observed mass was 669.0960.

6-FAM labeled N⁶-{1-[4-(3-Amino-1-propynyl)phenyl]ethyl}-2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-triphosphate (WW2p093)

A solution of 6-FAM-SE (3.5 mg, 7.4 μmol) in anhydrous DMSO (70 μL) was added to a solution of triphosphate dA.n14 (4.1 μmol) in Na₂CO₃/NaHCO₃ buffer (0.1 M, pH 9.2; 600 μL) and incubated at room temperature for one hour. The reaction was purified by reverse-phase HPLC using a Perkin Elmer OD-300 C₁₈ column (4.6×250 mm) to yield the 6-FAM labeled triphosphate WW2p093. Mobile phase: A, 100 mM triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) in water (pH 7.0); B, 100 mM TEAA in water/CH₃CN (30:70). HPLC purification was achieved using a linear gradient of 5-20% B for 20 minutes and then 20-90% B for 20 minutes. The concentration of WW2p093 was estimated by adsorption spectroscopy using the extinction coefficient of the 6-FAM dye (i.e., 68,000 at 494 nm).

All patents and patent publications referred to herein are hereby incorporated by reference. Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A method of determining the sequence of a target nucleic acid comprising (i) adding a target nucleic acid to a Sanger or Sanger-type sequencing apparatus, (ii) adding one or more compounds of the formula:

wherein R₁═H, monophosphate, diphosphate or triphosphate, R₂═H or OH, R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group of H, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, R₅ R₆, and R₇, are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, a halide, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, with the proviso that one of R₅, R₆, and R₇ is a group of the structure:

wherein X═CH₂, CH═CH, C≡C, O, S, or NH, Y═CH₂, O, or NH, n=an integer from 0-12; m=an integer from 0-12, and Dye=a fluorophore, and R₈ and R₉ are as defined above for R₅, R₆, and R₇, with the proviso that neither R₈ nor R₉ is NO₂,  to the sequencing apparatus, with the proviso that where more than one type of base is present, each base is attached to a different fluorophore; (iii) adding a complementary primer and a polymerase enzyme, (iv) performing a polymerase reaction to incorporate at least one of the compounds of step (ii) into a growing nucleic acid strand, and (v) analyzing the result of the Sanger sequencing reaction with fluorescence sequencing instrumentation or by pulsed multiline excitation fluorescence, wherein steps (i)-(iii) can be performed in any order.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein incorporation of at least one compound according to step (iv) is followed by termination of strand growth at an efficiency of from about 90% to about 100%.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the incorporation of at least one compound according to step (iv) occurs at about 70% to about 100% of the efficiency of incorporation of a native substrate with the same base in the polymerase reaction.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the incorporation efficiency occurs at about 85% to about 100%.
 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the polymerase is selected from the group consisting of reverse transcriptase, terminal transferase, and DNA polymerase. 14-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of incorporating a non-naturally occurring component into a nucleic acid comprising: (i) adding a target nucleic acid to a sequencing apparatus; (ii) adding one or more compounds according to claim 1 of the formula:

wherein R₁═H, monophosphate, diphosphate or triphosphate, R₂═H or OH, R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group of H, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, R₅, R₆, and R₇, are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, a halide, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, with the proviso that one of R₅, R₆, and R₇ is a group of the structure:

wherein X═CH₂, CH═CH, C≡C, O, S, or NH, Y═CH₂, O, or NH, n=an integer from 0-12; m=an integer from 0-12, and Dye=a fluorophore, and R₈ and R₉ are as defined above for R₅, R₆, and R₇, with the proviso that neither R₈ nor R₉ is NO₂,  to the sequencing apparatus, with the proviso that where more than one type of base is present, each base is attached to a different fluorophore; (iii) adding a polymerase enzyme; and (iv) performing a polymerase reaction to incorporate at least one of the compounds of step (ii) into a growing nucleic acid strand, wherein steps (i)-(iii) can be performed in any order.
 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising (v) analyzing the result of the polymerase chain reaction for incorporation of at least one compound from step (ii).
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein incorporation of at least one compound according to step (iv) is followed by termination of strand growth at an efficiency of from about 90% to about 100%.
 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the incorporation of at least one compound according to step (iv) occurs at about 70% to about 100% of the efficiency of incorporation of native substrate with the same base in the polymerase reaction a native substrate with the same base in the polymerase reaction.
 20. A method of terminating nucleic acid synthesis comprising the step of placing a compound of the formula:

wherein R₁═H, monophosphate, diphosphate or diphosphate, R₂═H or OH, R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group of H, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, R₅, R₆, and R₇, are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, a halide, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, with the proviso that one of R₅, R₆, and R₇ is a group of the structure:

wherein X═CH₂, CH═CH, C≡C, O, S, or NH, Y═CH₂, O, or NH, n=an integer from 0-12; m=an integer from 0-12, and Dye=a fluorophore, and R₈ and R₉ are as defined above for R₅, R₆, and R₇, with the proviso that neither R₈ nor R₉ is NO₂, in the environment of a polymerase and allowing incorporation of the compound into a nucleic acid.
 21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the efficiency of termination upon incorporation of the compound ranges from about 90% to about 100%.
 22. The method according to claim 20 wherein the efficiency of incorporation of the compound ranges from about 70% to about 100% compared to the efficiency of incorporation of a naturally-occurring nucleotide or nucleoside with the same base.
 23. A method of performing Sanger or Sanger-type sequencing comprising addition of a compound of the formula:

wherein R₁═H, monophosphate, diphosphate or triphosphate, R₂═H or OH, R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group of H, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group. R₅, R₆, and R₇, are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, a halide, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, with the proviso that one of R₅, R₆, and R₇ is a group of the structure:

wherein X═CH₂, CH═CH, C≡C, O, S, or NH, Y═CH₂, O, or NH, n=an integer from 0-12; m=an integer from 0-12, and Dye=a fluorophore, and R₈ and R₉ are as defined above for R₅, R₆, and R₇, with the proviso that neither R₈ nor R₉ is NO₂, to a Sanger or Sanger-type sequencing method.
 24. A method of performing mini-sequencing or minisequencing-type sequencing comprising addition of a compound of the formula:

wherein R₁═H, monophosphate, diphosphate or triphosphate, R₂═H or OH, R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group of H, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynyl, and an aromatic group, R₅, R₆, and R₇, are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, a halide, a C₁-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkenyl or polyenyl, a C₂-C₁₂ straight chain or branched alkynyl or polyalkynl, and an aromatic group, with the proviso that one of R₅, R₆, and R₇ is a group of the structure:

wherein X═CH₂, C≡C, O, S, or NH, Y═CH₂, O, or NH, n=an integer from 0-12; m=an integer from 0-12, and Dye=a fluorophore, and R₈ and R₉ are as defined above for R₅ R₆, and R₇, with the proviso that neither R₈ nor R₉ is NO₂, to a mini-sequencing or minisequencing-type sequencing method.
 25. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, —CH₃, —CH₂CH₃, —CH₂CH₂CH₃, isopropyl, tert-butyl and phenyl.
 26. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein R₃ or R₄ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl and aromatic groups optionally containing at least one heteroatom in the alkyl or aromatic groups, and further wherein the aromatic group may optionally be an aryl or polycyclic group.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein R₃ or R₄ is —CH₃ or isopropyl.
 28. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as:


29. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as:


30. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as:


31. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as:


32. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as:


33. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (I).
 34. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (II).
 35. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (III).
 36. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (IV).
 37. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (V).
 38. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (VI).
 39. The method according to any one of claims 9, 16, 20, 23, and 24, wherein the compound is further defined as a compound of formula (VII). 